Chrysalis

I’m so .... So hungry!

Perched here on the roof of the cavern, my claws dug into the cold rock there is only one thought in my mind.

Food!

All the delicious things I was able to eat in my previous life are spinning through my mind, chocolate, cake, steaks, bread, yes even bread! I haven’t eaten anything for two days now, the hunger is making my mind play tricks on me. The last time I saw a Croca-beast I swore it looked like a cow and nearly leaped at it from the ceiling!

The centipedes are looking and more like a tangle of noodles. I have to solve this situation before I get myself killed chomping on something I shouldn’t.

Two days. I have been planning for two. Whole. Days.

I have studied every aspect of this end of the cavern in excruciating detail. I’ve spent so long hanging upside down over the water basin that I nearly feel asleep and dropped into the water. That would be a swim I wouldn’t enjoy...

A welcome side effect of spending all my time this way has been my sneak has levelled up to four! Thanks to spending my downtime digging away at my hiding place my digging has also reached level three.

Mua HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I prepare, I grow, I hunger!

Sigh.

I know, these skills are pretty much useless, ok? I know. I’ll take anything I get at this stage. Hopefully, soon I’ll be able to conquer my first prey.

My antennae twitch suddenly. The target is close, I can smell them. Concentrating hard I try to focus my eyes, I’m currently positioned away from pool in a very dark area of the cavern, the snaking light veins along the walls are far apart here, allowing deep shadows to exist.

My chosen prey has been using the wall on this side of the cavern as a resting place, crawling down to the floor and over to the pool once each day to drink.

I think I can

Wait, I see it!

moves down the wall. It nests amongst the rocks towards the top of the wall, I haven’t been able to see clearly enough to identify exactly where so I couldn’t tell when it started moving but I

towards the

I won’t

fairly slowly, especially on the vertical surface, I get into

spines protruding from its back look so solid, as if made of stone. Man, I bet it would sting to get stabbed with

now,

my eyes are the eyes of the hunter, the eagle, the tiger! I have to wait for my moment to strike, the

Now!

aim and fire my acid spray directly at the target. The liquid falls through the air at tremendous speed, splashing against the rock and covering the Armour Lizards’ feet,

My secret target practice over the

the acid begins to burn its legs, it tries to turn and find the attacker but I’m already

plan enters the second phase, the Lizard sees me approach and tries to turn and bring its fangs to bear, tilting the fearsome spines forward to cover as much of its body as it can. This is the wrong battle ground for you Lizard! You want to battle me here on the wall? With my incredible grip skill at level three, this wall is no challenge, also, I am nimble and light but you are heavy and slow, with your feet burning with acid how

want to face

say that, I’m still terrified in this moment. My first battle, the first hunt! I cannot fail here or my life may be over, I have to focus. The Lizard is bracing itself for the close range battle but just before I close in I suddenly turn and blast

expect

reorient myself for the fight as the Lizard growls and hisses as acid continues to burn at

thrust forward with its fangs or spines

my antennae. I’ve seen more than one fight over the last few days settled by new challengers entering as the original combatants grew weary. I can’t allow

heavily, the energy required to support its body here on the wall while fighting is taking a toll, its

lunges forward, its spikes rushing directly towards my still pitiful eyes! I have to dodge! A flash of inspiration strikes and I snap my feet further apart, lowering my body closer to the wall. To grip at this sort of angle takes all the strength my tiny claws can muster but it works, the spikes pass

Chance!

closed on the head of my foe. It releases a pained growl as my

sorry Lizard, you must become

the final phase. I gather my strength,

the wall as I sail over its head, scaly feet tipped with claws scrabble and scrape at the stone but burned with acid and worn